Timothy R. Walmsley joined the Robbins Firm as a partner in its Savannah office after fourteen years as a judge on the Superior Court of Georgia located in the Eastern Judicial Circuit (Chatham County). He advises and represents the firm’s clients in commercial and real estate litigation, contracts, regulatory matters, and government affairs, bringing a rare vantage point built from more than a decade on the bench. With his background Walmsley is able to provide insight and guidance to clients on a wide variety of concerns related to development, planning and litigation.
Governor Nathan Deal appointed Walmsley to the Superior Court in February 2012, and voters returned him to the bench unopposed in 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. While on the court he managed a diverse docket including both civil and criminal matters and presided over many of the region’s most serious cases. As a judge in Georgia’s court of general jurisdiction his civil case load included various contract disputes and related matters, personal injury claims, premises liability, and property damage cases. He also presided over matters related to title to land, equity and extraordinary writs. In May 2020, he was appointed to preside over the criminal trial of three men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia — a case that drew national attention and resulted in the conviction of all three defendants.
Before joining the bench, Walmsley was a partner at a large regional firm where he practiced commercial and real estate litigation and regulatory law. He also served as counsel to the Chatham County Board of Tax Assessors and as a judge in the Magistrate Court of Chatham County. Earlier still, before law school, he worked as an environmental consultant with ICF Kaiser Engineers in Washington, D.C., conducting site investigations on a range of environmental matters.
Walmsley received his J.D., with honors, and a Certificate in Environmental Law from Tulane University School of Law and his B.S. in Environmental Studies from Allegheny College. In 2024, Allegheny College awarded him its Gold Citation in recognition of his professional and volunteer achievements. He was named one of the Savannah Business Report and Journal’s “40 Under 40” notable Savannahians and has been recognized as a “Rising Star” of the Georgia Bar by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine.
Walmsley is a graduate of Leadership Savannah and has been active in the Georgia Bar Association and the Savannah Bar Association. He has served on numerous boards and engages regularly in the community. He has most recently served on the Board of Trustees of Hancock Day School and the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Savannah, and as a volunteer coach for Benedictine Military School’s sport shooting team. In addition to his practice, he is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer, having addressed civic groups, colleges, and law schools on a variety of law and policy connected topics.